Ryuu Kusari no Ori -Kokoro no Uchi no 'Kokoro'-

Chapter 4 Part 2

Nozomu and his friends were walking down the main street leading to the school. Students who are attending school, in the same way, are chatting around, and each topic is in full bloom.

White-based uniforms stand out quite a bit on this street, where many people come and go, but among them, Irisdina, Tima, and others are stand out by far as usual.

The passers-by look at them every time they pass each other and then they look at Nozomu and Mars with jealousy and doubts. Nozomu feels like he has a lot of eyes on him, but it’s reasonable.

Mars’s appearance is not really that bad. His gaze is a little bad, but he is tall and rather well-organized. His younger sister, Ena, is also considered a beautiful girl full of vitality.

Until now, Mars was always frowning and wearing a dangerous and tense atmosphere. Now that he’s calm, his original good looks stand out.

(Well, certainly, I am the only one who is considered normal among them...)

Nozomu, on the other hand, looks quite normal. His appearance and height are normal. We can just bring the face of a random person around, stick it on, and it will be done.

Inevitably, he was exposed to jealousy more than Mars.

(By the way, about the talisman that I found in the back of the school building before. I knew that it was an oriental-style, long-distance vision technique, but I didn’t know who was using it ...)

Nozomu suddenly remembered the talisman he had found behind the school building.

He still had the talisman he found at that time, and when he looked it up in the library, he found it was one of the long-distance vision techniques, "Eyes of Spatial Connection" but he didn’t know who was using it.

Nozomu’s friend relation is small, and he didn’t know much about students in other classes.

Considering that this talisman was in the direction where he felt the line of sight and also that Mars was invited by someone, he immediately thinks that the owner of this talisman is the cause.

(... If it’s Iris and Tima-san, they may know about it)

"By the way, I have something to ask Iris and Tima-san, is that okay?"

"What is it?"

"It, it’s okay ... what is it?"

Nozomu shows the talisman he collected from behind the school building.

"Do you know what this is?"

Tima was the first to react to the talisman that Nozomu showed. It was a quick reaction, perhaps because she is a magician and has a good education.

"This is a talisman. It is used as a magical medium in the eastern continent countries."

"I wonder, do you recognize it?"

She squints her eyes and stares at Nozomu’s face, but her expression is not good.

"Hmm. I understand that it’s one of the long-distance vision techniques, but ..."

"I also don’t know. In the first place, only a few people use the Talisman Technique at this school. People in that country don’t go abroad very often. At least they should have been in the third class or above."

Irisdina, who was watching next to Tima, is also unfamiliar with it. At the same time, she wondered how Nozomu had such a talisman. She knew that Nozomu couldn’t rely on magical powers such as magic.

“............Rather, Nozomu. What’s wrong with this talisman?”

"Eh! Ermm, that’s ........."

Nozomu stagnates at Irisdina’s sudden question.

Actually, Nozomu did not tell Irisdina and others that he was taken to the back of the school building. He didn’t want to make Irisdina and others worry, and there was nothing wrong with what Irisdina and Tima did for the fact that he was brought to the back of the school building. Irisdina and Tima just came to invite their friends to eat. It was Nozomu’s classmates who made the turmoil.

When Nozomu heard that Mars was intentionally separated from him, he thought it would be better to tell Irisdina and others after finding the culprit and then resolving everything.

“.............. Are you hiding something?”

"”... Is that true?"”

As Nozomu was pressed, Irisdina and others were sensitive to the fact that Nozomu was hiding something.

Probably they feel that the cause has something to do with them. Irisdina’s gaze became sharper, and strangely, Nozomu feels suffocated.

"Ermm....."

"This guy was taken to the back of the school building after you came to our class the other day."

"Wait! Mars!!"

“ ............ What do you mean? "

"Nozomu-kun ... "

"Nozomu-san ... "

Nozomu manages to escape, but Irisdina and others pushed him and press Nozomu with a three-way gaze, saying, "Lies are no good."

Irisdina’s voice has dropped and turned into an intimidating voice. Her eyes become even sharper, and her stinging gaze pierces Nozomu.

The faces of Tima and Somia staring at Nozomu became harsh, and Nozomu’s ears seemed to even hear the sound of the piercing gazes, *Stare--------*.

"... Umm. That’s........"

"Are you willing to talk?"

"............Yes"

In the end, Nozomu couldn’t stand the gazes of the three, and the events behind the school building were told.

When Irisdina heard that, she seemed to be angry. Her beautiful eyebrows are frowning, and her deep black eyes are swaying in her anger. Her anger was directed at the students who attacked one person in groups, there was also anger at Nozomu for hiding it.

"... Why didn’t you tell us?"

"There is nothing wrong with Iris and the others in the first place. I thought it would be better to solve it by myself..."

"That’s not the problem !! Good grief!"

"That’s right, Nozomu-san! The problem is that you didn’t talk to us !!"

"That’s right! It’s painful for me if my friends have such a terrible experience, but it’s even sadder if they didn’t tell me at all!"

Nozomu is blamed by three girls. He doesn’t know what to says, but they couldn’t ignore it as long as they were involved, and even though he cares about them, the saddest thing is that he hid it from them.

"Hehe~! Well, this time Nozomu is bad."

Mars is looking at Nozomu, who is surrounded by three people, whispering like someone else’s problems. Mars stands on the sideline before he knows it, even though he is involved. His cheeks are loose and he clearly enjoys seeing Nozomu flustered.

However, Irisdina didn’t forget about him either.

“.............. By the way, Mars knew that Nozomu was hiding it.”

"Ah!"

“............... That ’s right. In this case, Mars-san is also guilty.”

"... Mars-kun"

"......... Umm. Oh right! I was on a day shift today ..."

Mars realizes that Irisdina and others’ spear points toward him, and tries to leave the place by telling an outright lie. However, as Mars was about to rush out, he got pulled back by being grabbed by the neck of his uniform from behind. It was Irisdina who pulled Mars back. She has a very beautiful smile and gives off a feeling of intimidation like Hannya. Somia and Tima also use intimidation that doesn’t suit their delicate bodies.

(TL : The Hannya (般若) mask possesses two sharp bull-like horns, metallic eyes, and a leering mouth)

"Now, it’s preaching time."

Nozomu and Mars couldn’t resist the three, and they decided to raise the white flag early.

Eventually, the three sermons to Nozomu and Mars continued until the central park in front of the school. It continued until they came to a place where they parted ways with Somia who went to Ecross.

"Nozomu, from now on, there’s nothing hidden from us."

"Do you understand! Nozomu-san!"

"Mars-kun, you too ..."

"Y, yes"

"... I, I understand ..."

Both Nozomu and Mars have their shoulders dropped and have blue faces. It seems that their life journey up to this point has been significantly narrowed down.

The child, Somia, was angry with her cheeks bulging and still cute, and Irisdina wasn’t the usual her who was always calm, she was making a loud voice.

Nozomu didn’t think she would get so angry, he could only apologize in a hurry.

Tima just stared at Mars with a sad look, but if an ordinary man continues to be sadly stared at by a fragile beautiful girl, he will feel very guilty.

Mars was no exception, at first, he just turned his eyes away with an awkward face, but gradually he began to groan, such as "Uh~" and "Muu", and finally apologized with a small voice, "Sorry".

"Oh! Isn’t that the lady at that time!"

When Nozomu and his friends looked at the source of the sudden voice, they saw an old man with white hair and a white beard coming to them. It was Zonne, the ero geezer who touched Irisdina on the date a few days ago.

“........... Why is the old man here?”

When Nozomu asked Zonne a question, the old man began to answer triumphantly.

"I smell a good scent coming from here. I thought that there were probably quite a few flowers, but then I could meet the young lady again ... I feel destined! "

(Ermm, good scent ............ Should I call the military police? Or a doctor?)

As usual, the old man is all dirty mind in his brain. He could tell the place where the beautiful girl is by the smell, it feels like a mess. Nozomu began to think half-seriously whether he should hand him over to the military police as soon as possible and push him into a man-only prison.

"What the! There is another beautiful young lady! How is it! Would you like to have tea with me?!"

"Eh, me?"

"... Eh!"

When Zonne noticed Somia and Tima by Irisdina’s side, he started picking up girls without worrying about time or place. Since this place is near the main gate of the school, it will naturally be seen by many students who are attending school and those who are heading to work. The people around are looking at him, but Zonne doesn’t seem to care at all.

"Hmm! There’s a good store near here! Anyway, you are pretty. Just like a white lily!"

Zonne approaching Tima and Somia without hesitation. He is too indiscriminate. While talking to Irisdina, he tries to call her best friend in front of her.

"E, ermm ......... but we’re going to have lessons ..."

Somia doesn’t seem to understand well, but the problem is Tima, who is originally not good with men. Zonne was approaching so vigorously that she was completely swallowed by the momentum.

"What, don’t worry about it! The most important thing is that we met here now! People meet once in a while. You may never meet the person you met here again in your life. Then this encounter is more valuable than any jewel! That’s why young lady. Immediately date with me."

""That’s enough!!! ""

"Buhaa!! "

The fist slammed by Nozomu and Mars hits Zonne’s head directly. The two perfectly synchronized fists slammed Zonne’s perverted head against the cobblestones, and the old man’s face smashed with a pitiful moan.

"What are you doing!"

"That’s should be my line, ero geezer! If you don’t cut it out, I’ll roll you up and hand you over to the military police !!"

Zonne, who was thrown to the ground and his face swollen to red, as usual, continued to say something selfish. As expected, Nozomu was not reluctant to deal with this old man, so he had no hesitation in stopping him even if he took physical measures.

However, as expected, the words he hears next make Nozomu perplexed.

"... No, that’s not necessary. Let’s cut him up right now ..."

"......eh!"

It was Mars who made a ridiculous proposal. He already has a greatsword on his back and is about to kill Zonne.

If we look closely, his eyes are completely bloodshot, and he seems to have forgotten himself in anger.

"Wha, wait! What are you going to do in a place like this !!"

"It’s decided !! I’ll just make meat from the carefree old man in front of me !!"

Mars takes a peek at the blade of the greatsword from his scabbard. Tima and Somia broke in between them, perhaps because they thought it was bad.

"Wait! That’s no good, Mars-san !!"

"Wa, wait, Mars-kun! As expected, that’s overkill!"

"P, please help me~~!"

"Ha! Oi wait for me! F*ck*ng geezer!"

Tima and Somia stop Mars from jumping on Zonne. Perhaps the old man, who was the cause, felt the danger of his life due to Mars’s anger and ran away with lightning speed.

(That’s fast! What kind of body does that old man have......)

Zonne runs away at a speed that clearly does not seem like an old man. His appearance has already moved to the entrance of Central Park, and he does not look like a person who shorts on remaining life at all.

However, if he thinks about it, Nozomu’s master was also clearly not necessarily an old person. Considering their appearance, Nozomu would be convinced even if it was said that they were a single individual race called "Shino".

He wouldn’t normally be able to meet such rare creatures in a row. He may be happy with that, but considering that the other party is that "Shino", it may be unavoidable for Nozomu to feel dejected.

"So you want to escape! Wait!"

"C, calm down. Mars-kun!"

"Ane-sama and Nozomu-san !! Please don’t just look, help us!"

(Ah, I forgot about Mars ...)

Nozomu, who returned to reality by Somia’s words, hurriedly started running to stop Mars.

=====================================

Mars’ POV

Nozomu and Mars parted ways with Irisdina and others, then walked towards the 10th class classroom.

Mars is still frustrated because his anger at Zonne has not subsided.

"Damn, that geezer ..."

I still couldn’t get rid of the anger towards that geezer, and I complained and grumbled. In the end, the old man named Zonne was gone, and although they weren’t injured, there was a flame of anger swirling in my chest that I couldn’t even understand.

"Well, I didn’t sympathize with that old man, it’s just ... Mars, isn’t it settled yet?"

"......Hmm!"

Nozomu calls out to me, whose anger hasn’t subsided yet. With blood still on my head, I just let out my voice to let go of it.

Why am I so angry in the first place?

When that old man approached Tima, an anger that I had never felt before came up inside me. Unlike when I’ve been messing around, a feeling of frustration as if my heart was grabbed instantly.

In an instant, I recognized the old man in front of me as an enemy and tried to eliminate him from my eyes as soon as possible. I immediately felt it was overkill, but once the frustration that arose in my chest pushed my reasoning away, when I realized it, I was holding a sword in my hand.

(What happened to me? ............)

My best friend in front of me worriedly stared at me, who looked different than usual, but I didn’t notice it.

====================================

Nozomu sighs when he sees Mars, who is not yet calmed his own heart. In this situation, he may not even notice it even though he has arrived in the classroom.

At that time, a male student jumped out in front of him.

"Ah~"

"Eh!!!"

He tried to dodge in a hurry, but he couldn’t avoid it, and the shoulders of each other colliding. Nozomu was surprised to see the other party in front of him as soon as he regained his position.

He has a slender and lean body, and his eyes are so thin that we can’t tell if he can see properly, but he has a well-organized sweet appearance and shining golden blonde hair. If anyone called girls out with that face, most women would probably go effortlessly. What caught Nozomu’s eye most was that the same golden tail as his hair grew from the student’s butt.

"Ah, pardon me. I was in a hurry. Are you injured?"

"I’m fine, but ... are you alright?"

"It’s okay. Even if I look like this, I’m pretty well trained."

That said, the boy put his hand on his waist and stretched his chest. A little childish gesture, but without negative emotions such as malice or irritation, but rather purely childish, Nozomu had a strange sense of familiarity with his atmosphere.

"My name is Feo Rishitza. Third-year, 2nd class."

"I’m Nozomu Bountis. Third-year, 10th class"

"Fu ~~. I wonder if you’re "that" Nozomu Bountis."

"Ah............"

When Feo hears Nozomu’s name, he squints his narrow eyes and stares at Nozomu. Nozomu has a stronger sense of familiarity with his peeping gaze. He is trying to dig up his memory.

*clang~ clang~*

At that time, the morning assembly bell rang.

"Ah, it’s bad. If I keep going like this, I’ll be treated as late. Later, Nozomu!"

Feo one-sidedly said goodbye and left. Nozomu had no choice but to start walking toward the classroom without wiping out the discomfort that had caught in his mind.